14th Annual Banned Books Read Out

Let Books Be. Protect the Freedom to Read.

Libraries across the country continue to face unprecedented, coordinated efforts to challenge and ban books—silencing voices, limiting access to diverse perspectives and voices, and threatening intellectual freedom. The Banned Books Read-Out is your chance to push back.

Join your fellow rebel readers in Morris Library to:

Challenge the concept of censorship by reading a passage from a banned or challenged book of your choosing Celebrate the First Amendment and every reader’s right to seek information freelyConnect with a community committed to protecting the freedom to readLearn more about what you can do to protect the freedom to read and uphold this year’s theme “Let Books Be. Protect the Freedom to Read.”

Readers are invited to read a five-minute excerpt from a banned or challenged book of their choice—or select one from our collection on hand. Walk-up readers are welcome, but advance sign-ups are encouraged and will receive priority. Need inspiration? Browse the American Library Association’s list of most challenged books of 2025 or PEN America’s list of most challenged books of 2026.

Sign up to read here.

The Read-Out is free and open to the public. Drop in anytime to listen, participate and celebrate the freedom to read. All readers will be entered into a book raffle.

Presented in partnership with the UD Department of English, this event is part of our campus-wide Banned Books Week programming, which celebrates the freedom to read and raises awareness about the dangers of censorship.